Bachelor of Arts in Art and Performance

“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.”

— Emile Zola, 19th Century French playwright and novelist

Artists create the cultural icons by which civilizations are remembered. What would America’s cultural identity be without the musical contributions of George Gershwin, the exquisite desert paintings and sculpture of Georgia O’Keeffe or the lighthearted cinematic and theatrical work of Nathan Lane?

Careers in Art and Performance

The combination of creativity, communication and critical thinking skills fostered by the School of Arts and Humanities makes this degree applicable to a variety of occupations. Aside from the mainstream career paths of teaching or working in arts organizations and museum settings, students with an art and performance degree may find employment in government, nonprofit or social science sectors.

The University’s Career Center is an important resource for students pursuing postgraduate employment. Licensed counselors are available to provide strategies for mastering job interviews, writing professional cover letters and resumes, and connecting with campus recruiters, among other services.

High School Preparation

To successfully obtain a bachelor’s degree in art and performance, you should possess an appreciation for the spectrum of current art forms and an insatiable appetite for learning about historical and emerging mediums. Beneficial high school preparation includes four years of English and social science, including history; two to three years of a single foreign language; and at least one year of arts curriculum.

Art and Performance at UT Dallas

Aspiring artists can find an academic home at UT Dallas, which currently boasts more than 80 courses in music, visual arts, creative writing, film studies, dance, theatre, art history and more. Students must successfully complete 120 hours to graduate, with 42 hours from the University’s core curriculum and 45 in the major. Students are attracted to the art and performance program at UT Dallas because they can study across disciplines. Art and Performance majors specify their following field of study in the optional concentrations: Communication, Film, Drama/Dance, Music and Visual Arts.

at least 12 hours of upper-division courses in the student’s major with a GPA of 3.80 in those courses

The completion of an honors thesis or project evaluated by two faculty members with a grade of at least B+

Exceptionally well-qualified Arts and Humanities undergraduates who meet the requirements for admission to graduate school should consider the Fast-Track program, which allows them to begin work on an A&H master’s degree before graduation. Qualified seniors may take up to 12 credit hours of approved A&H graduate courses during their senior year, which will apply to their undergraduate degree plans.

School of Arts and Humanities

The School of Arts and Humanities prepares students for the changes they will face in a media-rich 21st century. By connecting the visual and performing arts with the humanities (philosophy, literature, history), students learn how to think creatively as well as critically. More than 100 full-time faculty members, many of whom are internationally recognized scholars and performers, provide quality instruction on topics ranging from the history of the Middle East to emerging media.

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts: Arts and technology, emerging media and communication, history, humanities, aesthetic studies, history of ideas, studies in literature, Latin American studies

Master of Fine Arts: Arts and technology

Doctor of Philosophy: Arts and technology, humanities

Minors Offered

If your academic focus leads you elsewhere at UT Dallas, but you would still like to pursue studies in the School of Arts and Humanities, the following minors are available:

Art history

Asian studies

Communication

Creative writing

Drama/dance

Gender studies

History

Literature

Medical and scientific humanities

Music

Performing arts

Philosophy

Spanish/Hispanic area studies

Visual arts

Additional Facts

Twenty-two faculty members have been awarded prestigious fellowships, including those from the Guggenheim, Fulbright, Alexander S. Onassis and Woodrow Wilson foundations. Others are recipients of the Füst Literary Award, as well as awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The school’s nine centers further enhance students’ educational experience by bringing the concept of globalism to campus, by bringing world events into focus through research and by encouraging technological innovation and creativity.

The school boasts an aggressive arts outreach program, with more than 75 events per year. Students benefit from master classes with touring artists and performance opportunities that augment classroom learning.